Chi-Guide

Monday, September 24, 2012

There's no place like Chicago

It is certainly getting chillier out in the city and it’s time to switch the summer dresses for boots, scarves and blazers for the fall season.  That doesn’t mean you need to stay under a heated blanket and spend your weekends hibernating with movie marathons just yet.  There are plenty of great festivals and parks to venture out to during the fall season, so don’t allow yourself to be lame and complain about the weather—because it’s beautiful out!  

The cutest park I’ve seen in Chicago has got to be Oz Park located in Lincoln Park. Close to the Armitage Purple/Brown Line stop, The Scarecrow greets guests from the southwest corner. 

If he only had a brain!

Make a day out of packing a picnic and strolling in the park. Find Dorthy with her ruby red slippers. 

Yes, that's Toto's paw next to Dorthy!

I won’t ruin the entire experience providing photos of each of the characters—spend a fall afternoon visiting Oz Park yourself!

August 13, 2012:  I'm Still Dreaming of Akira's bazaar

I've got to say, one of the best events I went to all summer was Akira's 10th anniversary bazaar.  Located in Wicker Park, this festival was complete with amazing Akira sales, street vendors, free drinks, and even a live camel (now that's not something you see in Chicago everyday).  Free of charge to everyone!

I can't decide if my favorite part of the day was winning these Fiebiger Shoes, or getting my new pair of TOMS custom designed by the artists:

 I've always wanted to get a pair of TOMS, and when I saw that they were doing free customizations, it was obviously the perfect time to buy-- absolute brilliant marketing by Akira and TOMS shoes.  The best part is, with every pair of TOMS you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need.

These TOMS are fly as S*%T! 

Well done, Akira.  I'm eagerly awaiting your next festival.

July 30, 2012:  Summer should get a Speeding Ticket

I cannot believe we are approaching the final days of July.  Way to live life in the fast lane, summertime.

I find it critical to make a last month of summer Chicago to-do list, as I intend to enjoy ever moment of summertime we have remaining.  I’ll keep it short, since we’ve only got a month left:  

1.  Movies in the Park:  A perfect way to end your summer day, for a complete schedule, see here.  Pack some lawn chairs or a blanket and a snack (I recommend chocolate and wine). 
  

2.  Fireworks:  Chicago thinks just because the 4^th of July has passed, doesn’t mean we all can’t enjoy some fireworks.  Head to Navy Pier on any Wednesday or Saturday night to enjoy a free show. 

3.  Go to the Beach:  Head to your local lakefront to enjoy a full day of fun in the sun on the beach. 

4.  Get some Frozen Yogurt:  For a city that experiences 4 seasons, we sure have a lot of Froyo options—YogenFruz, StarfruitCafe, BerryMoon, and my personal favorite, Forever Yogurt.  Enjoy this tasty treat as a refresher on a hot day. 

5.  Explore a new Neighborhood: This city is so vast that you can never really become a full expert.  Go explore an area you’ve never seen before.  This can be as simple as getting off a random stop on your commute home and exploring for the evening.  Another easy way to explore a new neighborhood is to attend one of the remaining city festivals.

What else do you plan to do before the summer ends? 

Feb 9, 2012:  First bake the strudel then sit down and ponder

“First bake the strudel then sit down and ponder” is an Austrian proverb.  Last night I enjoyed a bite with my roommate at Austrian Bakery located in Lincoln Park.  We made our way inside and sat in the corner propped on stools at the window sill, ideal for people watching.  

Upon arrival, my sweet tooth was attracted to the display of cookies, cakes, and torts.  I decided immediately that I needed to save room for dessert.  I began contemplating my decision between the red velvet cookies, chocolate cake topped with a raspberry ganache, and giant heart shaped flakey pastries. 

It was a quite frigid out, so soup was perfect for the evening.  We ordered Frittaten soup, which is a traditional Austrian dish composed of savory vegetable broth with thins slices of Frittaten (pancakes) on top with a touch of diced green onion.  It tasted similar to a chicken noodle soup, except this had no chicken and noodles were substituted with sliced pancake.  It hit the spot.

Austrian Bakery really had a comfortable feel inside.  It was very European and welcoming, quite different from most mainstream delis and bakeries in the city.  In my opinion, it’s perfect to warm up on a cold winter night with a friend. 

As mentioned, I had to save room for dessert.  With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I went for the heart pastry.  When I received the check, I realized that heart pastry I ordered was actually a “Big Ear.”

Let me know your thoughts after visiting this spot!

Neighborhood:  Lincoln Park

2523 N Clark Street
(between Deming Pl & St James Pl)
Chicago, IL 60614

Hours:  Mon-Sun, 8am-8pm

Website:  www.AustrianBakery.com

Menu: Soup, deli, bakery

Perfect for:  A casual bite for 2-4 people

Price Range:  $

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